ELECTRICITY is an essential driving force for economic development for any modern nation, and if in short supply it can be counterproductive.
It can be counterproductive in the sense that major development projects cannot take off without reliable power supply while those already in progress will stall for a long time.
For developing countries like Zambia, steady but increasing power supply at any given time is even more imperative in that any additional project means additional demand for electricity and further widening of the current deficit.
With the major mega projects, like the establishment of the Multi-facility Economic Zones (MFEZs), new mines, new malls, housing projects, electrification of new districts and other gigantic works, Zambia’s yearly electricity demand will increase exponentially.
We, therefore, agree with Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Bob Sichinga, that the newly-established factories around the country will increase the demand for power and call for the need to critically look at the issue.
For example, last year, the electricity consumption in the country increased by 5.1 per cent to 10.8 million Kilowatt-hours (Kwh) from 10.3 million Kwh in 2012.
The construction, mining (quarries) and transport sectors posted amplified electricity demands of 38.2 per cent, 83.1 per cent and 19.6 per cent, respectively.
This could be explained by high demand for power to support increased economic activities around Africa’s second largest copper producer.
It is, therefore, only apt to expect the rise in power consumption this year and beyond given the on-going development projects and those which are yet to commence.
By 2012, the total installed capacity for power in the country was 1,830 megawatts (mw) out of which only 1,605 was available and the network had power deficit of 250 mw caused by increased activities in mining, agriculture, domestic and other industries.
Undoubtedly, the situation has been exacerbated by delayed investment in generation projects over the past years.
Further delayed investments in transmission and distribution systems have also led to the depleting power transmission and distribution capacity.
We recall that among the short-term measures, Zesco had planned to commission the remaining 180-mw generator at Kariba North Bank Power Station, increasing available capacity to 1,785 mw while a further 50 mw was envisaged to come from Ndola Energy, increasing available capacity to 1,835 mw.
We are also aware that other major projects which are expected to add significant amounts of power have been mooted.
These are the 300-mw Maamba Collieries Project which is expected to be completed this year, the 15-mw Lunzua Power Station (2015), 120-mw Itezhi-Tezhi Power Station Project (2015), the 85-mw Lusiwasi Power Station Project (2017) and the 750-mw Kafue Gorge Lower Project (2019).
If these projects go according to plans, they will add almost 1,300-mw of power to the national network which may wipe out the deficit and result into a surplus power supply situation.
There is, however, no guarantee that the total 1,300-mw additional power expected by 2019 will suffice because the level of additional demand has not been fully ascertained.
It is, therefore, imperative that as the Government and other stakeholders plan, they take that into consideration and try to match the level of investment in power supply to the rise in demand, which is sadly like a shifting shadow.
Investments, like the one by Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL), which is establishing its own power plant, should be particularly encouraged as a deliberate way of matching the pace of power supply with that of demand.
Otherwise, generally, the increase in power demand should be a sign of the rise in development, but the two have to be harmonised to ensure optimum economic benefits. OPINION